Also: Kuwait-Based Leasing Company Orders 10 More Planes
Though overshadowed
somewhat by the pomp and circumstance surrounding the official
unveiling of the Boeing 787 on Sunday, this weekend the planemaker
announced yet another new order for the popular plane. ALAFCO
Aviation Lease and Finance Company of Kuwait held a formal signing
ceremony Saturday for the direct purchase of 10 787-8
Dreamliners.
Valued at $1.62 billion at list prices, the new purchase builds
on an order for 12 787s ALAFCO announced in March 2007. The
Sharia-based leasing and finance company was the first Middle East
customer to finalize its order for the highly sought-after
Dreamliner, and ALAFCO has successfully placed its first 12 787s
with Kuwait Airways.
Scott Carson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO,
hosted today's event at Seattle's Harbor Club, where guest of honor
Mr. Ahmad Alzabin, ALAFCO's chairman and CEO, signed the order for
the additional airplanes.
"We're proud to be the first Middle Eastern company to purchase
the 787-8 and we're extremely pleased to have quickly placed all of
the 787s in our initial order with Kuwait Airways," said Mr.
Alzabin. "We have decided to move quickly on acquiring additional
787s as we see continued strong market demand for this
revolutionary airplane and we wish to offer airlines the airplane
that is setting new standards in operational efficiency and
reliability."
ALAFCO became a publicly traded company in October 2006. It
currently has airplanes on lease with nine carriers worldwide.
"Our strong association with ALAFCO, as well as having 787s
flying with Kuwait Airways, truly demonstrates Boeing's focus in
the Middle East market," said Carson. "We are determined to build
upon our regional relationships to establish an even stronger
foundation for future business - one that will continue to focus on
meeting our customers' expectations and providing airplanes and
services that help them be successful."
Boeing Says Qatar Airways Is Latest Dreamliner Customer
Eagle-eyed viewers of Sunday's unveiling ceremony for the
787 -- meaning those not lulled to sleep by the series
of well-deserved... but droning... speeches, acknowledgements, and
video presentations ahead of the "roll-in" of the actual plane ---
spotted what proved to be a telling bit of graphical knowledge.
During a showing of tail designs for all 47 announced Dreamliner
buyers, another was slipped in: the tail of a Qatar Airways
plane.
As ANN reported, last month
Qatar refused to either confirm or deny it had agreed to purchase
as many as 30 787s. Qatar currently operates an all-Airbus fleet,
although earlier this year the airline placed an order for 22 new
Boeing 777s.
In a statement Monday, Boeing confirmed the showing of a Qatar
tail was no accident... but a spokesman hastily added "I cannot
comment on their order."
For its part, Qatar representatives remain mum on the deal. In
response to a report in the UK's Sunday Express, the airline said
it had "nothing to announce" regarding a possible 787 order.
The airline placed an order for 80 Airbus A350 XWBs -- rival to
the 787 -- at this year's Paris Air Show.
NTSB Final Report: Cessna 177B
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